PERSONALITY OF PLANTS 
act, the first root came into being, and lo! there 
were terrestrial plants. 
It is to be noted that all development in the 
plant world is born of necessity. ‘To the plants, 
dependence upon water, food and the impulse 
to reproduction may be ascribed the start of 
many a new form among them. In the more 
complex groups we seem to see a conscious 
striving for higher and better things, but the 
lowlier species often need the goad of circum- 
stance to force them to attainment. 
When the plants first emerged upon the land, 
a number of structural changes became neces- 
sary. Whereas in the marine world, water is 
absorbed directly by all parts of the plant, in 
land life special organs of absorption and 
conductivity must be developed. At first, the 
roots were mere rhizoids or hairs, aided by 
water-drinking leaves and tubers, as in the 
Mosses and Liverworts today; but it was not 
long before true root and vascular systems were 
evolved. Other changes which came with 
terrestrial life were greater rigidity of tissue and 
devices to guard against evaporation. Leaves 
were developed for the purposes of manufac- 
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